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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Making My Own

With son's wedding coming up soon, I decided I needed a little clutch to use at the ceremony. Rather than run out shopping, I thought I'd try stitching something up. I didn't find any fabric in my stash that really did it for me, so again, I thought I'd wing it and 'design' something myself . . . with quilting.

I started with two pieces of Essex Linen in the "Linen" color, and two pieces of Pellon fusible batt, both slightly larger than my purse frame, which was 8" x 3". I fused the two pairs, and chose a couple of threads - an Aurifil 50 wt, #2314 (medium beige) and a 28 wt #2625 (pigeon, ie. silver). Honestly, I didn't choose the different thread weights intentionally - the colors were what went best with my dress. And I didn't think it would hurt to have a contrast in texture.

I used my hera marker to draw half a dozen curved lines across what would be the width of the purse. Then I took the 'front' piece, quilted with the beige along my marked lines, and from there I just went for it - no more markings. I stitched with my walking food and used a longer stitch length, just like any other quilting I would do. My regular quilting needle seemed to work just fine with both thread weights too.

I had adapted a pattern from one I had used previously and used it to cut all my purse pieces, hoping for the best. One extra little bit of stitching I like to do on these glue-in purses is to stitch the finished top edge about 1/8" from the edge before trying to fit it into my frame. I know it's not necessary, but it really helps me get a clean smooth edge that fits easily into the frame.

The lining, by the way, is a "Habitat" by Michele D'Amore stash find that I thought went great and was a good contrast in scale to the exterior. The photo below shows the first side of the frame drying for a bit before I inserted the second side.

And the finished interior . . .

And it's a wrap! Start to finish, it took me under two hours, including drafting my own pattern. Certainly alot more relaxing than traipsing through the mall on a hunt, and I know come wedding day, it'll be an accessory I'll enjoy using!

Deb this is exquisitely beautiful! So gorgeous & it looks more artisan than hand crafted (not that hand crafted is EVER a bad thing, it's just that some handmade things are so beautiful that they're on a whole other level). Well done!

I saw your bag on flickr this morning and I didn´t had time enough to post a comment. Now to read the background-story is so interesting! The bag is just gorgeous and fits perfectly for the wedding of your son. Best wishes from me to the couple!

It's absolutely gorgeous, Debbie! Such a classic, rich-looking bag. You made it look so easy! Thanks for linking to the purse frames too. When you order a frame, do instructions come with it? Or do you have to find a pattern someplace? I'm guessing there might be some free tutorials online. I'd like to make a selvages clutch and put a chain on it, for wearing over my shoulder. Think that would be doable?

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